Friday Finds

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Happy Friday everyone.  Today I really don't have any finds, but I do have 10 ways to beat the holiday stress according to sheknows.com.  My favorite on the list is don't overextend yourself.  If you know you can't make that dinner party or a co-workers get together don't stress...you just can make it and that's that.  Hope you all have a wonderful holiday.  I will be on vacation so I will see you all in 2012.  Enjoy~ xo

Cookies-n-Cream

I hope those of you with school aged children showed appreciation to your child's teacher by given them a small gift.  They nuture our seeds everyday so they might blossom into the flowers of tomorrow.  These are the gifts that were given to my daughter teachers; cookies to enjoy and cream to moisturize their hands.  xo

Homemade cookies and personalized label



Signed, Sealed, & Delivered

Now that I know most of my holiday cards have been received, I thought I share them with you today.  Every year since my first child was born I have been sending out holiday cards, usually with a picture of both my kids on the cover.  This year however I sent out something different.  I came across these cards on Minted and thought they were so cute and original, so I decided to make my own.  They were really easy to make and made right in a word document. 

Hope your holiday cards have been signed, sealed, & delivered.  xo

Tuesday Theme: Candy Canes

With 5 days left until Christmas it felt only right for today's theme to be about those red and white candies that you see adorn on Christmas trees and filled with candy dishes on the coffee table.  The savory peppermint taste is used in many desserts this time of the year.  Try some crushed candy canes on top of your brownies or sugar cookies when you are doing your holiday baking this weekend.  Hope you enjoy my inspiration board. xo

centerpiece, brownies, sugar cookies, candy canes, cake pops, nails

Mouthwatering Monday

Can you all believe that it's the last Monday before Christmas?  Today I thought I share with you one of my classics...empanadas.  This dish is what is always asked of me to make when I'm invited to any social gathering.  I actually made these mini empanadas for my daughters potluck last week.  They are so easy to make.  In my house it's like an assemby line when making empanadas; my 4 year old fills, my 6 year old folds, and I fry.  I hope you will try to make them for you next gathering.  xo

Ingredients

Goya empanada dough (I always use the yellow dough for meat and the white dough for vegetables)
Ground Turkey
1 cp of shredded chedder cheese
1 small onion chopped
3 cloves of garlic
1 pk of sazon
1 can of goya tomato sauce
black pepper to taste
dash of adobo
olives (optional)
Oil for frying

Recipe
1.  Cook the ground turkey until brown, then add onions, garlic, packet of sazon, pepper and dash of adobo.  When the meat is cooked and everything is missed well add the can of goya tomoato sauce.  Set meat aside
2.  Make sure the goya empandas are well thawed out.  This is when my assemby line starts.  I lay out the dough.  (There are 10 in a pack)
3.  Fill the center of each dough with about a 1/4 of a cup of meat and top with 1/2 a tablespoon of of cheese.
4.  Fold over to form a half a circle then press down the ends with a fork to seal.
5.  Then fry and enjoy.

Other variations that I have made:
Ground beef
Spiniach and feta
Shredded Seasoned Chicken
Curry Chicken
Cheese
Apples

Friday Finds

It’s one thing to give a gift, but it’s another to give gifts without guilt.  I know the economy has not been kind to us with purchasing gifts for our friends and loved ones so why not ditch the guilt and make a purchase that combines the good feelings of gift giving and charitable giving.  Enjoy and have a great weekend.  xo

Breast Cancer

At greater good you can purshase items that will donate a portion to breast cancer research.

Fledging Wine

At FledgingWine $5 of the price of each bottle of wine goes to Room to Read, a wonderful charity that spreads childhood literacy around the world

Product Red

Product Red covers a big selection of name-brand products, from iPods to laptops, from sneakers to watches, from Starbucks coffee to t-shirts from the Gap. All purchases trigger a donation towards the elimination of AIDS in Africa. The amount of the donation varies among the brands and products.



Good Shop

GoodShop lets you shop more than one thousand stores online and designate a portion of your purchase to your choice of its 80,000 affiliated charities and schools.



How does she do it?

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My aunt recently told me that my cousin (her daughter) wanted to know how I do it all. Well believe it or not…I don’t.  In fact I believe the whole idea is a myth.  No one can do it all, there has to be a balance some place.  If you know me in real life, then you know I love lounging around the house and that I’m a very typical mom.  I take care of my kids and don’t over estimate how much I can do.  xo

Holiday Events!

Have you finished your Christmas shopping and looking for something to do this weekend with the kids? Check out some events happening in the Boston area this weekend:

Edaville Christmas Festival of Lights

Edaville is transformed into a winter wonderland during the Christmas Season.  You can even board the Polar Express Train on certain days.

Urban Nutcracker

Celebrates the diversity of Boston’s urban communities and spotlights the talent of over 90 area children.  You will see a collection of dances from swing to urban tap.  Show ends Dec 18^th so this is the last weekend to check it out.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes

The Rockettes bring the stage to life with a rhythmic, rousing tap rendition of the beloved carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Enchanted Village

The rebirth of a Boston tradition

Arthur Christmas

This is a cute film playing at most major movie theaters

Tuesday Theme: It's a Wrap, Part II

Not only do I love receiving gifts, I love giving them in a nicely wrapped package.  I take a lot of pride in my gift wrapping and always try to find creative ways to wrap a gift.  Try using different types of paper, recycle material, or twine.  I hope you are inspired by today’s inspiration board. 

Happy wrapping! xo

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Mouthwatering Monday: Presentation



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Mmmm.....wouldn't you just love to wake up to this in the morning.  This is a tradition breakfast presented in a non-traditional way.  When I have a function I not only want people to remember how good the food was,  but how it was presented.  I'm all about presentation when serving food and these french toast kabobs are a great example. Try making them for your next slumber party or a late morning baby shower.  xo

Friday Finds: Stylish Hostess Gifts

Are you going to a dinner party or staying at someone’s house for the holidays.  Remember it’s always a good idea to bring a hostess gift.  Beside’s the host is welcoming you into there home, a gift is a way of saying thank you, and I appreciate it.  Marie Claire has a list of 15 hostess gift ideas that she’ll love.  Check out my favorites.  

Enjoy the weekend. xo

Dear Santa:

If you ask me I would say that I have been very nice this year.  Just thought I send you some items that I am hoping will be under the tree for me Christmas morning.  The Mademoiselle fragrance is a classic….I know my mom is tired of me using hers.  I can always use another bag, but if you asked my husband I already have too many.  I'm always excited to get a charm to add to my pandora bracelet.  Oh and I desperately need another camera. The one I currently have is completely done.  Hope this letter finds you well.  xo

MK Bag, Chanel Fragrance, Pandora, Leggings, Oprah Book, Camera

Family Traditions




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 I was reading the Metro yesterday on my way to work and they had an article about family traditions.  It bought back memories from when my sister and I were little.  We would watch A Christmas Story every year.  It was my all time favorite holiday movie.  As an adult with a family of my own I am creating my own traditions.  Every year on Christmas Eve we watch This Christmas, wrap the rest of the gifts, and make desserts for Christmas day.  I know I probably mentioned this before, but I just Love this time of the year.  Leave a comment with the traditions that you and your family are creating.  xo

Tuesday Theme: Glitz & Glam!

With the holidays right around the corner I bet you all are looking for something to wear to those holiday parties, a night out on the town, or a little sparkle for those weekend errands.  Well the latest fashion trend is definitely the more glitz and sparkle the better.  You can find sparkles everywhere, from your nail polish down to your shoes.  What I love about it most is its versatility.  You can dress it up or down. Today's inspiration board is all about glitz and glam.  Enjoy…xo

blazer, dress, uggs, skirt, shoes, tank top

Mouthwatering Monday

Over the weekend I made a quiche.  The is the perfect Sunday brunch dish.  You can have it with a side of home fries or just by itself.  I love quiche because it's like an omelet in a pie crust...and I LOVE pie crust.  I made mine with turkey bacon and cheddar cheese, but you can also use spinach, tomatoes, or mushrooms.  You can customized it to your liking. 

Tara's Turkey Bacon & Cheese Quiche

Preheat over to 350 degrees
Mrs. Smith Pie Crust
8-9 eggs
6 slices of turkey bacon (cooked and chopped)
1/4 cup onions (chopped)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1 tbs of milk
dash of adobo
salt and pepper to taste
Parsley

Mix all ingredients in a bowl then pour into pie crust.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 mins. Garnish with parsley.  Enjoy...xo

Tip: I cover the edges of my crust with foil to prevent from burning inside the oven.

Friday Finds: 12 Days of Christmas

Happy Friday!  You have exactly 3 weeks left to finish up your Christmas shopping.  As a child I always loved the 12 days of Christmas carol.  My sister and I would make up are on version as we got older.  Today’s finds is all about the original song and what your true love could give to you on each of the days.  Enjoy and have a great weekend.  xo

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

12 Drummers drumming

11 Pipers piping

10 Lords a leaping

9 Ladines dancing

8 Maids a milking

7 Swans a swimming

6 Geese a laying

5 Golden rings

4 Calling birds

3 French hens

2 Turtle doves

and a partridge in a pear tree!



Gifts for Your Al'Natural Sistas!

I just love this Essence article on “The Ultimate Natural Hair Holiday Gift Guide.”  Anyone who knows me knows that I’m obsessed with natural hair.  I’ve been natural myself for the past 5 years.  I just love the freedom of not worrying about my hair getting wet or sweating it out.  I can just twist and go.  My favs on the list are the Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus gift set, I Love my Cotton Candy Hair book, and the Satin Pillow Cases.  If any of you have some natural hair divas on your Christmas list check out the rest of items listed in the article.  xo

It's A Wrap!

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I just love these wrap around labels.  It’s a unique way to address an envelope.  They are perfect for weddings or parties since you can coordinate the colors and theme.  I will definitely be using these this year for my own holiday cards.  To make you can design a template yourself or find one on the web, then print on full page adhesive paper, cut, and WRAP!  

Check out Design Finch for some free templates.  xo

Tuesday Theme: It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

If anyone has not begun to feel the holiday spirit, just go into any store and you will definitely see it.  You can find Christmas decorations dangling from every department store to covering the shelves of drug stores.  Today’s inspiration board is all about Christmas and what it looks like to me.  Enjoy….xo



Bedding, Tree, Poinsettia, Pomegrante, Decor, Lady



Mouthwatering Monday

Happy Monday!  Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving.  Are you still nibbling off of turkey and stuffing like I am?  Anyway as promised from last weeks Mouthwatering Monday here is my Banana Pudding Pie that I made for Thanksgiving.  I must say it came out pretty good. 

The recipe called for a graham cracker crust, but I made my own vanilla wafer crust instead.  It was the perfect substitute. 

I recommend anyone who loves Banana Pudding to try this pie.  It’s easy to make and delicious.  xo

Home for the Holiday's

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One more day to finalize all of your Thanksgiving festivities.  It's a great feeling knowing that I will be surrounding by family and friends tomorrow.  However it made me sad yesterday when I asked a co-worker if he was ready for Thanksgiving.  His response was I will be spending it by myself.  My heart went out to him and I felt even more grateful for my family.  I'm challenging everyone to show some random act of kindness tomorrow to a stranger.  You never know when your kindness will lift someones spirit.  Have a blessed day and a Happy Thanksgiving. xo

Tuesday Theme: Sweet Potato Pie

I’m in full swing holiday mood.  Today’s inspiration bored is all about the color of my favorite Thanksgiving dessert…sweet potato pie.  Enjoy! xo

Flowers, Pie, Candle, Save the Date, Cake, Decor, Pillow

Mouthwatering Monday

I am so looking for to Thanksgiving this Thursday.  I will be making a new dessert this year, Banana Pudding Pie, a recipe that I found from Southern Living.  The layers of pudding and banana look scrumptious.  The recipe calls for meringue, but I think I’m going to use whipped cream, since I don’t like meringue.  I will let you all know how it comes out. xo

Friday Finds: Black Friday

Are you all ready for Black Friday?  I personally do not step foot into a store the day after Thanksgiving.  I don’t have the patients or time to deal with the madness.  For those of you who also can not tolerate the lines just do what I do; order everything online or make handmade gifts like I suggested in an earlier post.  If you are not that crafty check out my finds for the day, they are all handmade gifts from Etsy, an e-commerce marketplace focused on handmade or vintage items.  

Have a great weekend.  xo

Lemon Soap, Wrap Bracelet, Crochet Booties, Fingerless Gloves, Clutch, Swarovski Necklace

Dine in Style

Yeah Thanksgiving is a week from today.  I am so excited.  I usually divide my time between my grandmother’s house and my mother-n-laws house.  It brings me joy to sit down to a nicely decorated table surrounded by family and friends.  If you don’t already you should all try putting place settings out and a nice centerpiece.  It will not only make everyone feel special, but it’s pretty.  xo



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It's Raining Pom Poms!

  Looking for a created way to decorate a room for your next event.  These pom poms are a great alternative to balloons.  They are colorful, chic, and cost effective.  Check out Martha Stewart website for step-by-step directions.  xo



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Tuesday Theme: Peacock Teal

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I've been asked recently if my favorite color was teal.  It's actually fuchsia, but I guess I've been wearing a lot of teal lately that my co-worker assumed it was my favorite.  After she mentioned this to me I started noticing this blue-greenish color has not only been a part of my wardrobe, but has been seen more than usual in other textiles, decor, and accessories.  Today's theme is all about peacock teal...a color that's becoming one of my favs.  xo

Mouthwatering Monday

My son’s 4^th birthday party was on Saturday.  Good food, company, and of course treats.  I thought the basketball cake from Brookline Party Favors would be a big hit, but it looks like my sugar cookies were more of a bigger hit.  In the end everyone had a great time.  What topped off the end of the day for me was when my son gave me a big hug and said, “Mommy thank you for my party.”  Priceless…xo